OIC’ Kashmir Contact Group Reaffirms Support to Kashmiris’ Struggle

New York, September 21 (Kashmir Voice): Members of the OIC’s Contact Group on Jammu and Kashmir have reaffirmed their complete solidarity with the valiant Kashmiri people in their just struggle for securing their right to self-determination.
According to media sources, meeting on the sidelines of the ongoing 72th session of UN General Assembly, they reaffirmed their resolve to remain the voice of the Kashmiri people at the international stage. A communique issued after the meeting said that the conclusions, which were adopted, would be submitted for appropriate action by the Council of Foreign Ministers of the OIC, which will meet next week. Chaired by the OIC Secretary General, Dr Yousef Ahmad Al-Othaimeen, the meeting was attended by Recep Akdag, the Deputy Prime Minster of Turkey; Khawaja Muhammad Asif, Foreign Minister of Pakistan; Elmar Mammadyarov, Foreign Minister of Azerbaijan; Abdallah Al-Mouallimi, the Permanent Representative of Saudi Arabia; and Ambassador Boubacau Moussa Rilla, Director General of International Organizations, Niger. All members of the Contact Group expressed solidarity with the people of Jammu and Kashmir and urged the UN Security Council to ensure the early implementation of its resolutions on Kashmir. The President of Azad Jammu and Kashmir, Sardar Masood Khan, and leader of APHC-AJK chapter, Ishtiaq Hameed, were present in the meeting as True Representatives of the Kashmiris. Pakistan Foreign Minister, Khawaja Asif, in his address said that since 1989 due to the oppression unleashed by Indian forces in occupied Kashmir, more than 95,000 Kashmiris had embraced martyrdom. “Around 10,000 women had been raped in IOK by the Indian forces. Many of them had been ganged raped. During custody, worst forms of torture were being inflicted. There was absolute lawlessness in the occupied Kashmir. No human rights organization was being allowed access to IOK, as India wanted to hide its shameless acts of sheer barbarism against the oppressed Kashmiris,” he said. Khawaja Asif reiterated that Pakistan remains committed to finding a just and peaceful resolution to the Kashmir dispute in accordance with the UN Security Council’s resolutions and the aspirations of the Kashmiri people. Pakistan would continue to extend its steadfast political, moral and diplomatic support to the Kashmiris in their indigenous struggle for realization of their fundamental rights, he added.
The OIC Secretary General, Dr Yousef Ahmad Al-Othaimeen, expressing deep concern over the grave situation in occupied Kashmir called for an immediate cessation of Indian oppression and atrocities in the territory. He urged New Delhi to peacefully resolve the Kashmir dispute in accordance with the wishes of the Kashmiri people and the UNSC resolutions. He said that though the Indian occupation forces could physically blind the Kashmiri people with their pellet guns, but they could not block their vision for the realization of their right to self-determination. The Deputy Prime Minister of Turkey, Recep Akdag, expressed grave concern at the deteriorating situation in occupied Kashmir. He emphasized the urgency of resolving the Kashmir dispute to ensure lasting peace and economic and social development in South Asia. The Foreign Minister of Azerbaijan, Elmar Mammadyarov, stated that the UNSC resolutions needed to be implemented without any further delay. The UN Security Council is the custodian of international peace and security and must deliver on its promises to the Kashmiri people and ensure early resolution of the Kashmir dispute, he demanded. The President of Azad Jammu and Kashmir, Sardar Masood Khan, also gave a detailed overview of the massive violations of human rights and international humanitarian law being carried out by Indian forces in occupied Kashmir. The True Representatives of Kashmiris briefed the meeting about the Indian brutalities on the people of occupied Kashmir. They also presented a memorandum to the OIC Secretary General containing details about the human rights violations being committed by Indian forces’ personnel in the occupied territory. KASHMIR VOICE